From Fiery Chilis to Iced Thai Tea

Plus some watermelon and grouper too

Charleston's newest restaurant, Rice Market, opened its doors for a fundraiser last weekend, letting patrons get a glimpse inside the former Boathouse on East Bay before its official opening on Tues. Dec. 21.

At the bottom of the menu is a build-your-own-bowl option. Choose from farro, white risotto, green tea bamboo rice, sticky rice, black risotto, or coconut basmati. Top it with cheese, duck confit, asparagus and mushroom, shrimp, scallops, or beef short rib. Arena says the international flavors are designed to match Charleston's Southern fare.

The space has been under renovation for the last few months, getting rid of the old nautical themes and replacing them with a more diverse, international vibe. Richard Stoney, the majority owner of the restaurant who has partnered with the new owners of the building, touts the unique features of the restaurant, noting the bar and its focus on rice wines from around the world. "A table level bar is set beneath an actual reproduction of a 'cypress rice field trunk', something that was used to control water levels in Charleston rice fields for centuries," he said in a press release. "The regular bar serving traditional cocktails, beer, and wine is set beneath artwork that depicts the progression of the rice culture from different regions of the world."

Sounds like an interesting addition to the culinary landscape. In related news, Stoney says they'll be setting their sights on rebuilding the James Island Boathouse early next year.